January 29th 2025.
This season, Cody Gakpo has been a standout player for Liverpool, but it turns out he could have ended up playing for their rival team, Manchester United. In a recent interview, Gakpo revealed the reasons why his move to United fell through and how it led him to join Liverpool instead. The 25-year-old has been in top form for the Premier League club, playing a crucial role in their successful season under new manager Arne Slot.
Due to injuries to Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez's inconsistent performances, Gakpo has taken on more responsibility on the field, impressing under Jurgen Klopp's successor. With 14 goals in all competitions, he has proven himself to be a valuable signing for Liverpool, with Klopp's decision to bring him in largely influenced by his outstanding performances for the Netherlands in the Qatar World Cup.
However, things could have turned out differently for Gakpo if he had accepted the offer to join Manchester United when they made him a priority transfer target upon Erik ten Hag's appointment as manager. Ten Hag had already recruited two of his former Ajax players, Lisandro Martinez and Antony, and had plans to add Gakpo to his attacking lineup. But a last-minute change of heart led Gakpo to stay at his current club until the winter transfer window, where he scored a hat-trick for PSV Eindhoven against FC Volendam, solidifying his decision to remain with his team.
Reflecting on the turn of events, Gakpo shared that he almost left in the summer of 2022 and could have joined United, but things didn't work out in the end. He prayed about his decision and found his answer in the hat-trick he scored, which was also the first of his career. He believes that fate and the guidance of his parents played a significant role in leading him to where he is now.
Gakpo will be returning to Eindhoven, his former club, for the first time since his move to Liverpool in January 2023. When asked how he feels about it, he admitted it would be a strange experience, especially since he has never been in the away dressing room before. However, once the game starts, he knows that his focus will be on helping his team secure a victory.
Meanwhile, manager Arne Slot has made a bold decision in preparing for two matches at the same time. With his team guaranteed a spot in the Champions League last 16, he has opted to rest key players for their match against Eindhoven and focus on their upcoming game against Bournemouth. This is the eighth game in a span of 27 days, and Slot believes it is crucial for his players to have some much-needed downtime. As such, nine members of the team, including star players Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, and Trent Alexander-Arnold, will be given a break.
When questioned about the potential challenge of facing the Dutch champions without his top players, Slot expressed confidence and stated that the result of the match is not of utmost importance. He has been preparing for both PSV and Bournemouth, which is a rare occurrence, as he usually only focuses on one opponent at a time. However, he believes it is necessary to give his players a break every few weeks to maintain their freshness. The players who have been left behind will receive extra training from the coaching staff before the game against Eindhoven.
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